title: Optimizing hospital reimbursement through physician awareness: a step toward better patient care.
abstract: We instituted a training program to improve the overall accuracy of medical record coding through greater physician awareness to enhance hospital reimbursement and maintain quality patient care. A physician-targeted course reviewed the prospective payment system, diagnosis-related group guidelines, ambulatory surgery reimbursement, and the relationship between accurate physician documentation and medical record coding. Annual increases in charges from prospective surgical case assignment, proper conversion of outpatient to inpatient status, and more accurate coding of inpatient comorbidities and complications led to an estimated increase in hospital charges of $1.6 million.
authors.affiliation: Midwest Orthopaedics, Rush-Presbyterian St Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flics
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records / Q000145:classification*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000191:economics; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011445:Prospective Payment System; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States